LOS ANGELES WOMEN'S THEATRE FESTIVAL CELEBRATES 33 YEARS!

A Multi-Cultural Festival of Solo Artists

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    • 2026 LAWTF Festival
      • 2026 Awardees
        • Carmen de Lavallade, Infinity Award
        • Diane Ladd, Infinity Award
        • Andi Chapman, Integrity Award
        • TL Forsberg, Rainbow Award
        • Vannia Ibarguen, Maverick Award
        • Yvonne Farrow, Eternity Award
      • 2026 Performers
        • Sarai Hicks
        • Sona Lewis
        • Christina Linhardt
        • Clarinda Ross
        • Victoria Boateng
        • Alice Cutler
        • Lynne Jassem
        • Michelle Perdue
        • Meagan Harris
        • Marissa Mahoney
        • Micia Mosely
        • Gio Quezada
        • Tangie Ambrose
        • Ada Cheng
        • Fay Hauser-Price
        • Vicki Dello Joio
        • Karin Trachtenberg
        • Rheagan Wallace
        • Barbara Brownell
        • Jovelyn Richards
        • Mandy Willams
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Celebration!

2024 Festival Ticket Prices

Empowering Voices Of Solo Female Performers For 31 Years.

VIP PASS – $150 (to all programs)     |     GALA – $100 (pair), $60 (single ticket)
At the Door Purchase – $30     |     Early Bird Purchase – $25

Stay tuned for more information on LAWTF's 2025 Annual Festival that will take place March 27-March 30

lawomenstheatrefestival

🎭 Amplifying Women’s Voices in Theatre Since 1993
✨ Empowerment • Legacy • Community
🎟 33rd Annual Festival • March 2026 • LA
🌈 Pride begins with the courage to live your truth 🌈 Pride begins with the courage to live your truth—and the freedom to share it. At the Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival, we know that stories have the power to illuminate, connect, and transform. Through the arts, we celebrate the full spectrum of human experience and create space for voices that inspire greater understanding, empathy, and belonging. This Pride Month, we honor the LGBTQ+ artists, storytellers, advocates, and community members whose creativity, resilience, and authenticity continue to shape our culture and move us forward. We stand with the LGBTQ+ community in celebration, solidarity, and hope—for a world where every story is welcomed, every voice is valued, and every person is free to shine. Happy Pride Month. 🌈✨ #PrideMonth #LAWTF #LosAngelesWomensTheatreFestival #Pride #LGBTQIA #TheatreForChange #StorytellingMatters #ArtsForAll #CelebratePride
#MotivationalMonday has come around once again, an #MotivationalMonday has come around once again, and today, #LAWTF is #Proud to celebrate today’s spotlight; actress & singer, Isabela Merced! 💫 Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Merced has stated that she wanted to be an actress from a young age. She began in community theater at the age of 6 & later made her Broadway debut at just 10 years old in ‘Evita.’ 🎭 She starred as the lead in Nickelodeon’s ‘100 Things to Do Before High School’ from 2014 to 2016, alongside voicing a main role in an animated spinoff of Dora the Explorer until 2017. She later went on to star as live-action Dora in the 2019 movie ‘Dora and the Lost City of Gold.’ 🎬 Merced gained even more attention for her emotionally vulnerable & captivating performances when she appeared alongside Mark Wahlberg & Rose Byrne in ‘Instant Family,’ as the eldest of 3 siblings in foster care. Critics & audiences alike praised the young star as the standout of the film, providing a heartfelt, authentic & emotional anchor. 🫶 Merced has been making & releasing music since she was 14 in both English and Spanish. While acting is obviously a major passion, Merced has said that music provides her with a unique outlet, allowing her to express her true feelings. “Music for me,” she once told The Italian Rêve, “is almost a solution for when I feel like there’s nothing I can do about a situation… it is freeing.” 🎶 Freedom in oneself & expression is another thing that Merced is passionate about. Though she officially came out in 2025, Merced says she’s been “queer her whole life,” but maybe held that part of herself back thanks to a more religious upbringing & having the benefit of “passing”, a.k.a not being visually recongized/considered queer. Especially since coming out publicly, Merced says she aims to "do her part" for the queer community in American pop culture & we think she’s doing an amazing job! 🌈 Isabela Merced may only be 24, yet she’s already well on the way to being a household name. Whether fighting against zombies in ‘The Last of Us’ or fighting for queer representation & rights, Isabela has found a balance of grace & fire that we should all be proud to embrace in our own ways. 💜
It’s the first day of June, and #LAWTF is feeling It’s the first day of June, and #LAWTF is feeling full of #Pride 🌈 Today’s #MotivationalMonday is a woman who can switch from screen to stage & from humor to heartbreak with award-winning skill: the one and only, Jane Lynch! 🎭 Born in Illinois, Lynch started her impressive career with 15 years as part of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company & The Second City Comedy Troupe. She further developed her comedic & improvisational skills at Annoyance Theater, where she played Carol Brady in ‘The Real Live Brady Bunch,’ before starting her onscreen career in the late 80s. From 1988 to 2009, Lynch amassed more than 120 of her (currently) 251 screen credits, solidifying her reputation as a versatile character actress in classic shows & films including ‘Frasier,’ ‘Boston Legal,’ ‘The 40-Year-Old Virgin’ & ‘The Fugitive.’ 📺 Perhaps her best-known role began in 2009, playing the tyrannical cheerleading coach, Sue Sylvester, in ‘Glee,’ until the show’s end in 2015. Her reign as the sharp-witted antagonist earned her the 2010 Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, plus 2 additional nominations in that category, and solidified her place as one of the best comedic character actresses of her generation. 🤣 Away from the silver screen, Lynch has starred on Broadway in both ‘Annie’ & ‘Funny Girl,’ as well as writing & starring in the award-winning play ‘Oh Sister, My Sister,’ which helped launch the ‘Lesbians in Theater’ program at the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center in 2004. Lynch is a staunch advocate for marriage equality, LGBTQ+ youth, disability awareness & animal welfare. She’s worked with the Human Rights Campaign, joined the "It Gets Better" anti-bullying campaign & received the Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award from the Global Down Syndrome Foundation. 🐶🏅🫶 Jane Lynch has truly earned her reputation as a “comedy badass of stage and screen,” but that “badassery” never stops her from embracing those around her & showing how compassion is often our truest strength. “Our greatest gift is our ability to laugh at ourselves and our situation,” she said. “It’s a scary time right now, but love and grace are everywhere.” 💜 #Womeninarts #janelynch
The last #MotivationalMonday of #AAPI Month is the The last #MotivationalMonday of #AAPI Month is the star of stage & screen, Auli’i Cravalho! 💫 Born in Kohala, Hawaiʻi, Auli’i was a high school freshman when she landed the title role of Disney’s 2016 animation ‘Moana.’ She almost didn’t go for it at all & was the last person to audition out of hundreds of actresses, yet, aged just 14, she became the first person of Pacific Island heritage to earn the official title of Disney Princess. When the film was released, viewers around the world were blown away by Auli’i’s singing voice, calling her performance “charismatic and effortlessly likeable.” She reprised the role in “Moana 2” in 2024 & announced she won’t be returning to the role in the live-action adaptation, but will serve as an executive producer & is “really excited to pass that baton on to the next young woman of color, to the next Pacific Islander.” 🌺 Recently, she’s been exploring more mature parts. She’s faced dark, speculative sci-fi in “The Power,” embraced her inner angst as Janice when the “Mean Girls” musical hit the big screen & threw herself into the self-destructive yet ever-captivating role of Sally Bowles for her Broadway debut in “Cabaret” – yet another monumental moment for Auli’i as a woman who holds her heritage & culture close to her heart. She was the youngest Sally ever on Broadway & the first Asian American and Pacific Islander to do so. 🎭 Alongside her career, Auli’i has long understood the power of her platform as a young, queer, Pacific Islander woman. She’s a passionate activist for environmental conservation, LGBTQ+ visibility & Indigenous rights, including being a vocal supporter of “No More Murdered Sisters” & other #MMIW campaigns. ✊🌍 Auli’i Cravalho might have stepped into the spotlight at just 14, but she’s proven in the years since that her talent & dedication are perhaps matched only by her drive to make positive & meaningful change. She may be the first Pacific Islander woman to step into some of these leading roles, but she’s adamant about making sure she isn’t the last. Whether encouraging future talent or holding big corporations to account, her message is clear: "Step up.”💪🏽💜 #WomenInTheArts#auliicravalho
Happy #MotivationalMonday, everyone! In honor of # Happy #MotivationalMonday, everyone! In honor of #AAPI month here in the US, #LAWTF would like to celebrate a dazzling star of stage & screen, Eva Noblezada!💫 Born in 1996 in San Diego, California, Eva often speaks fondly about growing up immersed in the influences of her father’s Filipino & her mother’s Mexican cultures. Put simply, Eva is adamant that “if there’s one thing I know, it’s that I’m effing proud to be Mexican-Filipina,” a pride she has worked to reflect in her artistry. Eva made her professional debut at just 17 as Kim in the West End revival of ‘Miss Saigon.’ She was scouted for the role at the finals of the National High School Musical Theatre Awards (a role that both Eva’s aunt, Annette Calud & her idol, Lea Salonga, had played!) In 2016, Eva once more followed in Salonga’s footsteps when she took on the role of Éponine in ‘Les Misérables.’ Both performances received high praise from peers & audiences alike, and her tenure as Kim earned her a WhatsOnStage Award.🏆 In the last decade, Eva has reprised the role of Kim on Broadway, given life to Eurydice in ‘Hadestown’ & Daisy Buchanan in ‘The Great Gatsby,’ and joined the revival of ‘Cabaret’ as leading lady Sally Bowles. Eva has only just turned 30, but she’s become a trailblazer in her own right, with a fire that shows no sign of dimming.🔥 As well as a proud representative of her Asian & Latinx heritage, Eva is also candid about her personal experiences of anxiety, body dysmorphia & bulimia. Working in industries known to profit from actors' bodies at the expense of their well-being, Eva has become a prominent advocate for self-care & recovery among performers as part of their jobs.❤️‍🩹 Eva Noblezada somehow simultaneously exists as the past, present & future of musical theater. Yet, even as her career soars ever higher, Eva doesn’t just remember where she came from; she embraces the influence of her heritage & the struggles of her mental health in her artistry. Her pride in who she is, where she comes from & what she has overcome helps remind us all that “we’re all doing our best.” And maybe, just maybe, that is the bravest thing any of us can do at all💜 #WomenInTheArts #EvaNoblezada
This month, we proudly celebrate Asian American an This month, we proudly celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and honor the vibrant voices, stories, artistry, and cultural contributions of AAPI communities. ✨ At the Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival, we believe storytelling has the power to build bridges, inspire empathy, and strengthen community—and AAPI artists continue to shape and transform the cultural landscape through their creativity, courage, and vision. We celebrate the generations of performers, playwrights, creators, and changemakers whose work reminds us that representation matters and every voice deserves to be seen and heard. Here’s to honoring the past, uplifting the present, and empowering the future. 🌸 #AAPIHeritageMonth #CelebrateAAPI #LAWTF #WomenInTheatre #RepresentationMatters #AAPIArtists #TheatreCommunity
There’s an old saying, “April showers bring May fl There’s an old saying, “April showers bring May flowers,” & for this #MotivationalMonday, we’re celebrating a young woman who is already blossoming into a fantastic actress & exciting new talent on our screens. 🌺 Tamara Smart was born in England, 2005. From a crazy-young age, it was clear that she had great potential for performing, taking dance classes by age 3 & thriving in theatre school by age 8. 🎭 Her first major role was Enid Nightshade in the BBC’s ‘The Worst Witch,’ from 2017 to 2020. Since then, Smart has held her own with stars like Bella Ramsey & Dame Judi Dench, earning praise for her professionalism, warmth & the depth she brings to roles. Her work in Netflix’s ‘Resident Evil’ showcased a still-growing gift for bringing strength & composure to physically & emotionally taxing roles. 💪 Smart’s abilities have led to legends of the acting profession throwing their whole support behind her & her career. In 2024, Smart was cast as fan-favorite character Thalia Grace in ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians.’ Her character is the daughter of Zeus, portrayed in season 1 by the late, great Lance Reddick. Smart had previously played Reddick’s daughter on a prior project & they had often talked about working together again. When the show was looking for its Thalia Grace, Reddick’s widow, Stephanie, reached out to the showrunners, suggesting they consider Smart for the role, as “there is something so magical about her." Though initially considered as a courtesy, Smart left such a strong impression that there was no doubt that the role was hers. 💜 Sadly, her casting was met with a wave of racially motivated vitriol, similar to her fellow young, gifted & black female co-stars. But Smart keeps her head held high & author Rick Riordan says, “Put the ‘grace’ in Thalia Grace!” With Thalia’s character having such a huge role in the upcoming story, fans can’t wait to see more of the lightning-wielding badass onscreen later this year. ⚡ Tamara Smart is a wonderful example of what can happen when natural talent, incredible passion & a strong work ethic are not just encouraged, but supported & respected, regardless of age, race, or gender. ✨ #WomenInTheArts #LAWTF
Supporting the Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festiva Supporting the Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival has never been easier—and it won’t cost you a thing. 💜✨ If you shop at Ralphs or Food 4 Less, you can give back to LAWTF just by doing your regular grocery run 🛒 It takes just a few minutes to link your rewards card, and from then on, you’re supporting women in the arts every time you shop—no extra cost, no extra effort. 💛 Quick 💛 Easy 💛 Impactful Follow the steps in the graphic and get signed up today! Let your groceries do a little good while you do your thing 😉 #RalphsRewards #Food4lessrewards #communitygiving #lawtf
Happy #MotivationalMonday and #MayThe4thBeWithYou Happy #MotivationalMonday and #MayThe4thBeWithYou Who else could #LAWTF honor today but the effervescent & indomitable spirit that is the late, great Carrie Fisher? ✨ In a career of more than 40 years, she appeared in over 50 films! A highly sought-after script doctor & with countless TV series, documentaries, video games & writing credits to her name, Fisher defined the phrase “a life well lived.” ✍️🎭 She began her legendary work on Broadway at just 16 & before she was 20, she had landed her most iconic role: Princess Leia in the Star Wars Saga. Almost overnight, she became one of the most recognizable women in Sci-Fi. 🌌 Fisher’s inimitable character shone through everything she did. Whether center stage or behind the scenes, she was known for combining strength, wit & vulnerability in her work. Her one-woman play ‘Wishful Drinking’ debuted in L.A. in 2006 & moved to Broadway in ‘09. It explored her own life as Hollywood royalty, the intense fame of Star Wars, as well as her struggles with addiction & bipolar disorder. 💪 In 2016, just 8 months before her passing, Harvard College honored Fisher with an Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award in Cultural Humanism, highlighting how her candid advocacy on mental illness & addiction helped reshape public conversations with “empathy and creativity,” which are perhaps the 2 words that summarize Fisher best. 💜🧠 Whether breaking the barriers of Sci-Fi for every little girl who picks up a lightsaber or speaking openly about her struggles, she reminded us all that everyone has their demons. That people are fallible, they live, they learn & sometimes, yes, they make mistakes. But Fisher never shied away from the truth of her illnesses & addictions, channeling the good & the bad into her artistry. She lived & loved unabashedly, using her experiences to reach people in their darkest moments & reminding us that even in those times, we are just as worthy of life & joy as anyone else. In the end, Carrie Fisher was a bold, brave & beautifully creative person & is someone who should inspire us all not only to face the darkness but also to remember that there can be beauty waiting on the other side. 🫶 #WomenInTheArts #RIP
Happy #MotivationalMonday, everyone! This month ma Happy #MotivationalMonday, everyone! This month marked 64 years since Rita Moreno made history, winning an Oscar for her role in ‘West Side Story.’ Now 94, Rita has an 80-year career to look back on, so today, let’s celebrate this trailblazing woman! 🔥 Moreno was born Rosa Dolores Alverío Marcano in Puerto Rico in 1931. Aged 5, she moved to New York, where she began taking dance classes & at just 13, Moreno made her Broadway debut in ‘Skydrift.’ After a talent scout saw her & MGM signed her to a film contract, she began a steadily growing career on the silver screen, now billed as ‘Rita Moreno.’ Between 1950 & late 1961, she was in more than 50 film & TV projects, including the Gene Kelly classic, ‘Singin' in the Rain.’ 🎥 Her breakout role came when she portrayed Anita in the original film adaptation of ‘West Side Story,’ becoming the first Hispanic woman ever to win an Academy Award. Despite the honor, however, Moreno felt her career growth was stifled by the highly stereotypical roles she was pitched. Even after her Oscar win, the typecasting continued, leading her to not make another film for 7 years, as a newfound sense of self-worth helped her turn down offensive offers. Instead, she focused on theatre, TV, one-woman shows & activism. She’s always been an advocate for Latinx representation in the arts & actively champions women’s rights, access to the arts & was active in the civil rights movement, even marching with MLK Jr. before he gave his iconic ‘I Have a Dream’ speech. 💪 “When you've been ignored for so long, you feel that no one can hear you and no one cares. But we must speak up and remain hopeful and unafraid.” Moreno once said in an interview about representation, a sentiment that she’s embodied across her life & career. Rita Moreno has seen the best & the worst of what the industry has to offer, yet for 80 years, she has continued with the hope & conviction that things can and WILL change for the better. From her prolific work on stage & screen to breaking barriers as the first & (currently) only Latinx #EGOT winner, Rita Moreno inspires us all to know our worth and to “always keep fighting for what's right.” 💜 #WomenInTheArts #LAWTF
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